Sauce Gardner debuts for the Colts against Drake London in Berlin as major matchups loom

The NFL’s best players look to carry momentum into the second half of the season this weekend. Week 10 has clashes between league veterans and young, up-and-coming talent.

DAZN News’ Gavin Babbitt dives into the player matchups to watch on Sunday. 

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Drake London (WR, ATL) vs. Sauce Gardner (CB, IND) 

Sauce Gardner joining the Colts was the biggest story of the trade deadline. Gardner has played both sides of the field this season, setting the stage for him to travel with Drake London in this game.

London is one of the NFL’s hottest receivers. In his last four games, he has gained over 100 yards three times and scored five touchdowns. 

This is a matchup of big, outside players that will be played at the point of the catch. London is outside the top-20 at receivers in yards after the catch, but ranks in the top five in contested catches. 

Those receptions will not come easily this week. Gardner is an elite talent in forcing incompletions. With the majority of London’s production coming on short routes, he must beat Gardner at the line of scrimmage. 

Intermediate routes are the best bet for Michael Penix when targeting London. Gardner is targeted on average 11.5 yards downfield. At 15-20 yards, the Falcons can make Gardner turn his head, forcing him to relocate the football. London has scored twice in this part of the field, and converted all six of his contested targets.

London has only eight targets on routes deeper than 20 yards this year. If the Falcons are trailing and Penix is forced to throw deep, Gardner is at an advantage. The All-Pro cornerback’s height is a huge asset in limiting big plays. 

While London is on a roll, this is a bad matchup for the Falcons’ receiver. Gardner has the speed to limit separation near the line of scrimmage, and has the ideal frame to challenge a big-bodied receiver. 

Drake Maye (QB, NE) vs. Buccaneers’ Secondary (CB/S, TB) 

Drake Maye is leading the NFL in completion rate (74.1%) and passer rating (116.9). His 17 touchdowns prove not only that he is accurate, but that he can finish drives.

The secondary in Tampa Bay is a steep test for Maye. Jamel Dean, Zyon McCollum, Antoine Winfield and Tykee Smith all allow completion rates no higher than 65%. 

The Buccaneers must focus on making Maye throw intermediate passes. He averages 10.5 yards per attempt, just over the threshold between short and medium depths. Maye has his lowest completion rate (65.1%) and three interceptions on those targets.

Dean and McCollum play at this depth consistently on the outside. This will help defend Stefon Diggs and Hunter Henry, who are targeted on average between eight and nine yards downfield. 

Kayshon Boutte is a key asset for Maye in this matchup. Maye’s passer rating is 142.1 targeting Boutte this season. Boutte is used on much deeper routes, and leads the Patriots with five receiving touchdowns. 

Winfield and Smith will help on Boutte over the top. The two safeties have allowed only one touchdown this year, but Maye is not missing when he attacks opponents deep. The second-year star has a 6-0 touchdown-to-interception ratio on routes over 20 yards. 

This game is likely to be close and high-scoring. Maye is going to find a way to produce, as he has throughout the Patriots’ six-game winning streak.  

Davante Adams (WR, LAR) vs. Renardo Green (CB, SF) 

Davante Adams has settled in with Matthew Stafford and the Rams. The veteran is a top-15 receiver in targets (69), and leads the NFL in touchdown catches (8). 

Renardo Green has taken over at right cornerback for the 49ers in his second NFL season. He has impressed in coverage, allowing a reception rate of only 44.1% and zero touchdowns this season. 

Green has fantastic reaction speed off the line of scrimmage. The quick reactions will keep him parallel with Adams at best and leave a small gap to close at worst. 

Adams’ sweet spot is 13 yards downfield. Green has been playing at a similar depth. If he allows Adams to beat him to that spot, he will concede yardage. If Green sticks with Adams, his top-20 forced incompletion rate (18%) will show.

The proving ground for Green is the red zone. Seven of Adams’ eight scores this season have come inside the 20-yard line. Adams has a 30-pound advantage in this matchup, and must use it with Green’s talent in press-man coverage. 

Look for Adams to score this week with 50 to 60 yards. The touchdown for Adams will come in a different matchup, as Deommodore Lenoir and Upton Stout are more prone to allow receptions than Green.